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Brain Balance Centers: Achieve Solutions for Children and Parents

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“I know this stuff, but why won’t it stick in my brain? I guess I’m dumb.”

His words break your heart. Your child is struggling in school, unable to comprehend the basics that most children have already mastered. His grades are dropping, along with his self-esteem.

Butler, Missouri, resident and mother Pam Craft heard these words from her 11-year-old son, Rains, but standardized testing results showed that he was a bright young boy. He possessed the capability, but his schoolwork was suffering. Pam knew that something was not right.
“Testing showed that Rains was a smart boy, but he was having problems in school and falling further behind,” recalled Pam. “At first we thought it was his sight because teachers noted his eyes weren’t tracking together as he read. But we discovered that wasn’t the solution. He continued to struggle while my husband and I searched for answers.”

Last year was very hard for Rains and his parents. Every night they spent three hours together working on homework. His math, reading and spelling continued to deteriorate. He had trouble concentrating in class and sitting still. Eventually Rains was diagnosed with primitive reflexes, which means that the back of his brain was underdeveloped. Babies are naturally born with these reflexes, but as the brain matures these reflexes integrate. For Rains, these reflexes did not integrate correctly.

Finding the Right Direction
“When we received that diagnosis, I began researching primitive reflexes on the internet. Every link that I found sent me to Brain Balance,” she recalled. “I contacted the center in Overland Park with the hope they could help my son.”

Brain Balance Achievement Centers offer a cutting-edge, drug-free approach to help children with academics, behavior and socialization. Brain Balance serves a population of children with or without a diagnosis, but commonly sees children who have been diagnosed with ADHD, Asperger’s, autism, sensory processing and many other neuro-behavioral disorders. Essentially, Brain Balance addresses the root cause of the child’s struggles by improving brain function.

The Brain Balance Program integrates three key areas of brain development: sensory motor and cognitive activities along with nutritional guidance. The nutrition program, Balance 360, gives families step-by-step guidance toward a clean eating system. This integrated approach is what makes Brain Balance unique and very effective.

“The program is about restoring balance between the right and left sides of the brain so they’re in sync and working together,” shared Pam. “We are in our second session with Brain Balance, driving nearly 120 miles for each of those sessions. But we’ve seen the improvement; it’s worth it.”

Total Family Involvement
Each child receives an individualized program that incorporates sensory motor and cognitive programming. In addition, families commit to a supplemental home program. Brain Balance is a joint commitment that leads to a healthier and active lifestyle for the whole family and ultimately improves the child’s quality of life.

The Brain Balance whole-child approach begins with a comprehensive assessment to evaluate the child’s strengths and weaknesses. The assessment determines if there is a functional disconnection between the two hemispheres of the brain. As an objective and quantifiable measurement of each area of function is made–motor, sensory, behavioral, social, emotional and cognitive–more than 900 different functions are assessed in a single three- to four-hour session. It allows the staff to better understand the child’s challenges. While the child is undergoing the evaluation, parents have the opportunity to provide additional insight.

Within two to three days of the assessment, parents meet with Rebecca Banks, center director, and review the collected data. The result is a comprehensive, individualized program addressing the child’s challenges with the goal of reducing or eliminating the symptoms.

Successful Solutions
Rains is approaching the end of his time at Brain Balance, and Pam is extremely satisfied with the outcomes. “At the end of the fourth quarter last year, he made the B honor roll and received an award for his improvement. This is huge for him,” noted Pam. “Brain Balance has given him the confidence to know he can succeed.”

Pam has already recommended Brain Balance to other parents. However, she stresses to them that the program is a commitment for the entire family, not just the child. Overall, she’s pleased with the results, and Rains is a much happier child because he’s succeeding.

“Brain Balance is a wonderful program, and the staff is there for you. When you have questions, they answer them,” shared Pam. “It’s comforting for me knowing Rains is getting help, and I can see the improvements. I’m actually anxious for the school year to start for him. Brain Balance has given me hope.” HLM

Visit the center at 6406 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kansas, call 913-627-9400 or visit the website at brainbalanceoverlandpark.com.